Stefano Basilico, #574, GRACE DARLING

My wife and I sail out of Bellport, in the Great South Bay, Long Island.  I have just purchased a 22 lb Delta.

Skip Baker, #3, White Cap

White Cap came with a 14# Danforth.  After one sleepless night in a very crowded anchorage (complete with "hey you the sailboat;  you're draggin!"), it has been relegated to lunch hook.    I now have a 27# Danforth on the front that is coupled with 30' of BBB chain.  It seems to work very well unless it is a grassy bottom.

Steven, #332, Alleron

I carry several anchors aboard Alleron (Hull 332) including several Danforths (4 of misc sizes), and a Delta Fastset.  Her ground tackle includes 200 feet of 3/16 inch chain, and 400 feet of 7/16 inch rode.  I also carry chafe protection, as well as snubbers, misc shackles, etc.  It was usual for me to swing on two anchors during my journey, and although I admit to several anchor watch nights, I was generally well satisfied that Alleron would stay where I put her.  The peace of mind that comes from the security of owning quality ground tackle and using it properly is worth the investment.  Was nice to know the boat would still be there when I got back from walking into town.

I just finished a 2400 mile cruise (four months aboard), so I took my ground tackle very seriously.  Different conditions require different anchors and anchoring techniques.  Waiting to enter a lock in 8 feet of water for twenty minutes obviously requires a different anchor and technique than anchoring in 
a 30 foot deep sound with forty mph of wind.  Each situation is different, from bottom type to weather/surface conditions.  Long distance cruising requires a variety of equipment, contingent on environment, not necessarily boat type, etc.

Rob Squire, #96, Head over Heels

Anchoring is arcane at best, but as individual as each of our opinions.  To define your need, you must define your needs.  If you are only occasionally overnighting, the only anchor to have is the one that allows you to sleep all night.

I can only express my opinion, and you know, they are like....well, body parts...everyone has one.  It's easy to over kill your ground tackle, until the fhit hits the san...then you'll wish you had at least one of...a little over kill.  Another can be more lunch hookish.

As for rollers, get one that will hold  rode in a bit of a chop.  If you are storing the anchor on the roller, it will be more specific.  Modify the boat to fit that roller, and to be sure, the boat will be better when you are done and you'll sleep better when the day is over.   I've included apicture of my roller arrangement on Head over Heels.  I did not have to cut the boat at all, rather I built up a couple of risers from blocks of teak, then coated them with epoxy and paint.  The roller rides over the toe rail.  So far they work great.  These particular rollers are Windline Marine available at West Marine or any chandlery, I imagine.  The anchors are a 25# CQR and a 7.5 Kg bruce.  The CQR is on 150' of 1/4" chain while the bruce is on 30' of 1/4"  and 200 feet of 1/2" line.  Disregard the windlass....I found it at a second hand store for $135, basically new (!!!) and couldn't pass it up. 

Ray Alsup, #256, Pegasus

I have a Bruce, 13# Danforth and #17 Danforth anchors however, I cannot use an anchor roller/retainer because of my roller furling.  I use a 13# Danforth with 15 feet of chain in the S.F. Bay & Delta area and do not carry the 17# Danforth or Bruce except when coastal cruising.

Greg, #277, Aliya

We use a Danforth hi-tensile 13 lb as a lunch hook etc and a 22 lb Delta (on the bow platform) for overnights.  Having experienced one violent storm several labor days ago (on land wind blast measured at 115 mph) which I estimated the wind to be 40 plus knots (with a screaming train like howl through the rigging) we held fast on the Delta and lots of scope.

I fashioned a platform out of mahogany 2x2 's with thru bolts and attached with ss straps to the foredeck (see  Spur's book). It is used just for storage with no roller.  A roller would be a nice additional.

Bill Bell, #41, KIALOA

I really do not care for much soggy rode below on general principle - I try to keep the cabin dry. But what really ties a knot in my skivvies is the safety angle. I feel it is absolutely paramount - especially if you sail in coastal waters, maybe alone on some occasions - to have an adequate anchoring rig ON DECK - ready to go with no chance for snagging or otherwise fouling up below where you cannot get at it fast. Like NOW. I carry four anchors and the deck anchor is a High Tensile Danforth with 15' 3/8 chain and 100 feet of 5/8" nylon. It is in bronze chocks at the aft end of the forward deck - just before the house enclosure rises from deck level. Things do not get snagged on it, we have learned not to trip on it and I know it has saved the boat from going onto the rocks at least twice when entering  through breakwaters in sloppy seas. The line is coiled neatly atop the anchor and made fast. A 100 foot long coil of anchor rode does not make a very large bundle..With the anchor resting in its chocks, the bundle lays on top of the anchor, along the shank. The whole bundle is maybe 2 feet long and not more than about 8 inches diameter if in a neat circle. Once it is set atop the anchor, it naturally flattens out. I secure it  with a length of small stuff looped around one shank - outboard of the fluke, across the stock and the bundle of rode and then around the other end of the stock. I have carried my on deck ground tackle  in this manner for years and years with no problem. There is a very short, second length of small stuff which is tied over the "top" end of the shank, around the horns of the bronze casting supporting that end of the anchor. It is just secured with a square knot. When the anchor is over the side, both bits of small stuff are tied to a lifeline nearby.   It gets fresh-water rinsed when we get rain and  there is no mess below.

In the forepeak are 2 200 foot lengths and another 100. A folded-up Heerschoff "Yachtsman" lies in the forepeak and a small Danforth lunchhook and another 18 pound HT Danforth fill out the ensemble. I have anchored with two anchors set out many times and with three one time. (It was a mess - but we stayed put.)

By the way - while I have your ears - I find that small stuff is very useful. By "small stuff", I mean 1/4 braid with the ends heat fused. I always have a bunch of these pieces stowed in the cut-off bottom of a "Clorox"  jug in the cockpit. I carry about a dozen 2' pieces and another dozen three footers. I spray paint the ends of the three footers with green paint, the two footers get red. These colors come from an electronic background; there is an electronic numbering system wherein green denotes 3, red is 2 and so on.  The stuff is handy for securing the reefing tack and clew points, extra poles on deck, loose stuff in the dinghy and on and on. Knot tying classes with grandchildren. Chers  Bill Bell

Celeste Manolas, #141 Formerly Ebb-Tide

As with all boat projects, preparing and installing the bow roller was a real pain, but I’m very happy with the results.  (Click here to check out how it was done)